Throughout the past decade, the average cost of tuition has been steadily increasing at 5.6% each year, according to College Board. College costs continue to outpace inflation rates, causing families to make tough calls when searching and choosing the best education experience. Sometimes it results in students having to sacrifice their first choice. Other times, the decision is even more difficult, ...

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically… Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King Jr. February is Black History Month, and MonsterCollege is celebrating the event by taking a look at the most famous black colleges in the nation. Long before Barack Obama was President, these ...

Insects and people. Crop sciences. Cinema studies. What do these things have in common? All are classes taught in liberal arts and sciences colleges. Many students aren’t clear about the liberal arts and sciences—and why majoring in liberal arts may be advantageous to their careers. Most universities have a college of liberal arts and sciences that offer a wide range of ...

What contributes to a student’s happiness at school? Great academic offerings, a variety of extracurricular activities or the other students? It’s hard to gauge exactly what makes college students “happy,” but one way of determining that is to look at the freshmen retention rate, meaning how many freshmen return to that particular campus the following year. The Center for College Affordability ...

There’s a saying that if you visit a campus in the fall, you’re sure to “fall for it.” While that may be true, the chance that you might sell your soul to a school too early shouldn’t keep you from visiting college campuses. In fact, the fall semester is the best time to visit, whether you’re a junior or senior in ...

Have you ever been at the store practically drooling over an outfit that is just way out of your price range? Or coveting that latest sports car model that seems to have it all? Trust me, we’ve all been there. What would you do if a sales associate walked over to tell you that the perfect outfit or new car was ...

When August and September roll around, it’s just as difficult to say goodbye to your furry friends as it is Mom and Dad. Unfortunately, the majority of college campuses don’t permit students to house pets in on-campus housing, but some colleges across the country are breaking the mold and merging pet life with student life. After all, pets are known to ...

One of the most important steps in applying to college is figuring out which ones you're going to apply to (go figure). I haven't made up an official list of colleges I'm applying to yet, but I do know what I'm interested in. My views have gone through a long evolution, and if you look at the past three years, I've ...

If your roommate dies, you’ll get a 4.0. You know you’ve heard that rumor—and wondered if maybe, just maybe, it’s true. What about other college rumors? Our experts debunk these myths and give you the real scoop. Rumor: I can’t afford college.Busted: With scholarships and grants, few students pay the entire advertised sticker price of college. And with a little thought ...

Though this winter has been unseasonably warm in most areas of the U.S., it’s still been winter, meaning you may have spent more time getting lost in hours of TV dramas and Facebook than appropriate. But spring is just around the corner, and with that, it’s time to spring into action in your college and scholarship search. Whether you’re a high ...

Are you a realist or a go-getter? The answer could define your strategy for selecting your college of choice. There are three legs on the college application stool. You could apply to a "reach" school -- one you might get in. You could apply to a "safety" school -- one that you should easily get in. Or you could go after ...

So many schools! So many choices! Take it step by step to find the right college for you. Step 1: Develop your ideal college profile You can't find your perfect college until you figure out what you want. Start by breaking it down. Make a list of the characteristics you want in a college. Think about: Size: Large schools can offer ...

Choosing a college is stressful and making sure you make the right decision can often feel like a daunting task. To help out with the process, here are some common mistakes to avoid along the way: [gate] 1. Rushing the process. Finding the right college takes time and effort, not to mention research and an often lengthy application process. Waiting until ...

You found it! The college of your dreams looks perfect ... in the catalog. But you can't find all the answers about your school in brochures. Contacting the school and asking the right questions will give you a better idea if this is the college for you. Academics and Life After College Your college should help you reach your goals in ...

Academics, living arrangements, and costs may be at the top of your list of factors in choosing the right school, but experts say you should pay attention to one more thing: a school’s efforts to welcome students of your heritage. "It is crucial for a college-bound student to select an institution that reflects his or her values, cultural heritage, and aspirations ...

Last spring, we identified the must-dos for students in high school at all grade levels, and what better way to start the new school year than similar guidance for the fall. The start of the school year provides a clean slate – so brush off last year if it wasn’t so stellar or build off of it if it was particularly ...

Before you start researching the average class sizes at your top choice colleges, you should assess your own learning style. Do you prefer a small environment with an emphasis on discussion? Or would you rather be in a large class with a lecturing professor? Both class sizes have their advantages and disadvantages, and knowing the style that fits you can help ...

Brian Donovan recently graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He made the decision in high school that he wanted to go to a military college. "I wanted to challenge myself," Donovan says. "I didn't want to be just a normal college kid. I wanted to do something different." Every year, thousands of students make the commitment to attend ...

During her first semester of college, Veronica Sorce and her dorm friends sat in the audience at the “Jerry Springer” show in Chicago. The college kids watched as couples on stage broke up and threw down. “The guys were getting in fights,” says Sorce, a graphic design major from Peoria, Illinois. Checking out the “Springer” show is just one of the ...

If you're like most people, you flip to your prospective school when you see the college ranking editions of U.S. News, The Princeton Review and other publications. We all want to see how our choices measure up. But what do those numbers mean? How big of a role should a college's ranking play when selecting a school? Wealth of Information Want ...